diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
index 4423199de..6fb990a77 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
@@ -791,6 +791,13 @@ namespace cryptonote
      */
     uint8_t get_hard_fork_version(uint64_t height) const { return m_hardfork->get(height); }
 
+    /**
+     * @brief returns the earliest block a given version may activate
+     *
+     * @return the height
+     */
+    uint64_t get_earliest_ideal_height_for_version(uint8_t version) const { return m_hardfork->get_earliest_ideal_height_for_version(version); }
+
     /**
      * @brief get information about hardfork voting for a version
      *
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
index adccd0469..7460cf8c8 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
@@ -1427,6 +1427,11 @@ namespace cryptonote
     return get_blockchain_storage().get_hard_fork_version(height);
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  uint64_t core::get_earliest_ideal_height_for_version(uint8_t version) const
+  {
+    return get_blockchain_storage().get_earliest_ideal_height_for_version(version);
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   bool core::check_updates()
   {
     static const char software[] = "monero";
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
index abf79be1d..9a43c2e9f 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
@@ -655,6 +655,13 @@ namespace cryptonote
       */
      uint8_t get_hard_fork_version(uint64_t height) const;
 
+     /**
+      * @brief return the earliest block a given version may activate
+      *
+      * @return what it says above
+      */
+     uint64_t get_earliest_ideal_height_for_version(uint8_t version) const;
+
      /**
       * @brief gets start_time
       *
diff --git a/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h b/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h
index 59f8d5239..75561dbf8 100644
--- a/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h
+++ b/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ namespace tests
     bool get_block_by_hash(const crypto::hash &h, cryptonote::block &blk, bool *orphan = NULL) const { return false; }
     uint8_t get_ideal_hard_fork_version(uint64_t height) const { return 0; }
     uint8_t get_hard_fork_version(uint64_t height) const { return 0; }
+    uint64_t get_earliest_ideal_height_for_version(uint8_t version) const { return 0; }
     cryptonote::difficulty_type get_block_cumulative_difficulty(uint64_t height) const { return 0; }
     bool fluffy_blocks_enabled() const { return false; }
     uint64_t prevalidate_block_hashes(uint64_t height, const std::list<crypto::hash> &hashes) { return 0; }
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/ban.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/ban.cpp
index 688656cbc..313ff21d6 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/ban.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/ban.cpp
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ public:
   bool get_block_by_hash(const crypto::hash &h, cryptonote::block &blk, bool *orphan = NULL) const { return false; }
   uint8_t get_ideal_hard_fork_version(uint64_t height) const { return 0; }
   uint8_t get_hard_fork_version(uint64_t height) const { return 0; }
+  uint64_t get_earliest_ideal_height_for_version(uint8_t version) const { return 0; }
   cryptonote::difficulty_type get_block_cumulative_difficulty(uint64_t height) const { return 0; }
   bool fluffy_blocks_enabled() const { return false; }
   uint64_t prevalidate_block_hashes(uint64_t height, const std::list<crypto::hash> &hashes) { return 0; }